On this day in 2009, The Walt Disney Company completed its acquisition of Marvel Entertainment, Inc. Both Disney and Marvel shareholders voted to approve the purchase that had been announced by Bob Iger on August 31. The $4 billion deal gave Disney the rights to over 5,000 Marvel characters. ‘Iron Man 2’ would be the first Marvel Cinematic Universe film to be released by Disney in May 2010. MCU films have since earned over $30 billion at the box office! [15 years ago in 2024]